//------------------------------// // The Strength to Fight // Story: My Little Pony: Dueling is Magic! // by Wolfgang //------------------------------// Author’s Note: Told you I had a plan. I had a tough time writing what you’re about to read, but it became easier as I pressed on. I’m not sure why that is, but I think it’s best not to question it. A mild curiosity is fine, but I don’t wanna jinx it. I promise that the next chapter will wrap up the duel. In the meantime, please enjoy this chapter, and thank you all for putting up with my stalling for so long. /*********************\ A gentle breeze brushed through Yusei’s hair and made the cut on his cheek sting. He surveyed the duel field and looked at his deck in desperation. “It is your turn, Yusei,” came the deep voice of Darkness. “Draw your card and fall to your knees. Revere me, a true god who has defeated a Signer.” “You haven’t won yet, Darkness!” said Yusei. “You simply do not understand. You may have the strength to fight, but those who occupy my world do not, and your strength will not be enough to defeat me.” “You’re the one who doesn’t understand. I don’t have the strength to fight, not on my own. My father named me after the project that led to Zero Reverse because he wanted me to be like the center gear of Momentum. He wanted me to be the kind of man that would bring people together. That’s where I get my strength, Darkness. I get it from my friends.” “What are you talking about?” “Anyone can fight alone, but no one can overcome their failings alone. My father was blamed for Zero Reverse, and I was blamed with him. My first D-Wheel was stolen from me by my best friend, and he trashed it. I’ve been beaten in duels; I’ve nearly been killed. Whenever I felt alone, I would give up. I’ve faced fear itself, and sometimes, I gave in. But my friends always pulled me back up I may be cut off from my friends at home, but I have friends right here! I won’t let them give up, and they won’t let me give up either!” “Just what do you plan to do?” Yusei looked up at the black orb in the sky and clenched his fist. Then he shouted, “Everypony! Can you hear me? You have to hear me! Remember who you are! Think of the things that you love! Look at your Cutie marks! Those are just a fraction of who you are! Everything you’ve ever done, everyone you’ve ever met, they’ve all shaped who you are! Remember that and grab hold of it! Remember your friends, your family! Remember the ones you love, and don’t let them forget their dreams! Don’t let them forget about you, and they won’t let you forget about them! Don’t give up!” ***** Spike lay curled up in his basket, wrapped in his blanket, shaking from crying so much. The sound of the falling rain transformed into rumble of waves rushing toward him. But he heard something else. It was faint, but he still heard it. He poked his head out of his blankets. “Yusei?” he said. Spike crawled out of his bed and moved up to the windowsill again. He saw Rarity walking, alone, in the direction of Carousel Boutique. “That’s right,” said Spike. “Even if she never chooses me, I can still be there for her. I can still help her when no one else is around to do it. She’s still my friend, and that’s what matters!” Spike jumped down from the window and ran downstairs, grabbed an umbrella, and bolted out the door. “Rarity!” he called as he ran. The white unicorn stopped. “Spike?” said Rarity, surprised. “Goodness, darling, what are you doing out here in the freezing rain?” “I wanted to talk to you,” said Spike. “Look, maybe you’ll never share my feelings, but you’re still my friend. Even if I can’t have anything more than that, I don’t want to lose it.” Rarity looked down at the baby dragon in bewilderment, but it slowly melted and was replaced by admiration. “Spike, you really are the most generous dragon, I’ve ever known. Why don’t you come over for some hot chocolate, dear?” she said with a smile. “Pinkie Pie shared the most delicious recipe with me the other day.” And together, they walked. ***** Chaos in nothingness. That is what Discord was trying to accomplish. He realized this now and had given up. He had no power where there was nothing to be done. He heard the waves and smiled at the inevitable peace that would wash over him. Then he heard it. Faintly, a voice cried out to him. “What’s that?” muttered Discord as he held his paw to his ear. “Is it that two-legged ape? ...Yusei?” The sound of the waves vanished. Discord heard the sound of the wind, felt it blow through his fur. He took his hand away from his ear and looked at it. He was free. “Freedom,” said Discord. “I’ve been selfish with it, haven’t I? Why can’t I be the chaotic being that I am and still live in Equestria? What’s stopping me from loving Celestia as I do? I said it myself, didn’t I? Harmony can come from chaos!” Discord vanished and reappeared in the throne room of Canterlot Castle. Princess Celestia sat on her throne, reading scroll that she held in front of her with magic. “Celestia,” said Discord gently. The scroll moved aside and the alicorn’s eyes widened. “Discord!” she cried, her eyes narrowing. “I’m not here to fight,” said Discord. “How long has it been? Five thousand years? You must have seen a lot of ponies pass in your time.” Celestia’s glare remained. “You’ve only had your sister to support you these past millennia,” Discord continued, “but you probably did most of the supporting, huh? Listen, I just want you to know... well, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the stunts I pulled. I’m sorry for ruining our friendship. And I’m sorry for not being there for you for the last six thousand years.” The stern look on Celestia’s face melted away. She now seemed... sad. For a long time, there was silence. Discord sat on the floor, but did nothing else. The silence remained. “Discord... thank you,” the princess said at last. “And... I’m sorry too.” ***** Applejack lay on the ground, sobbing as hard she could. Gray waves rushed toward her, roaring behind her. Then she stopped. “Y-Yusei?” she sniffed. “S’that you?” Applejack stood up. The roaring of the waves faded away and was replaced by another sound. “The timberwolves!” said Applejack. “That’s right, the zap apple trees are ALWAYS bare! The rest of the farm might be gone, but we still have the zap apples! An’ I can’t give up on my family! We Apples have gotta stick together!” Applejack turned in the direction of the train station and started galloping as fast as she could. “Big Mac, wait!” she yelled when she saw her brother. He stopped and looked behind him. Applejack caught up with him. “The... timberwolves... are howlin’!” she panted. “Get Apple Bloom an’ Granny Smith! We can still save the farm!” “How?” asked Big Macintosh. “I dunno,” said Applejack. “But we gotta try! We ain’t done nothin’ yet, so we ain’t failed yet! Am I right?” Big Mac grinned and said, “Eeyup!” Then he galloped off to the train station to get Apple Bloom and Granny Smith. Applejack turned and began walking back to the farm. “That’s right,” she said to herself. “We ain’t done nothin’ yet, so we have to try!” Applejack’s flank began to glitter and the three red apples that were her Cutie mark reappeared. ***** Rarity looked glumly up at the sign on her door. She could hear the waves coming for her, just behind her. She turned to face them. They were gray and lifeless, just like the gems she once adored. “Just like my heart,” she muttered. “I suppose I’ll fit right in...” The waves were almost upon her when she heard something else. Her ears perked up. “Yusei? Is that you, darling?” she said, looking around. Then she saw somepony walking toward her out of the waves. It was Twilight. Spike was sitting on her back. “Hi, Rarity,” said Twilight. “How are you doing?” “Oh, hello, Twilight,” Rarity replied. “I’m... well, I suppose I’m doing as well as can be expected. Which is to say... not very good.” Twilight walked up to Rarity and gave her a hug. Rarity began sobbing. “Rarity, I’m so sorry that your business is gone,” said Twilight. “If there’s anything you need, just say so. Spike and I would be more than happy to help.” Spike hopped down from Twilight’s back and put a hand on Rarity’s front leg. “Twilight’s right,” he said. “No matter what, we’re here for you.” “I... thank you... b-both of you,” said Rarity as she tried to get her sobbing under control. “But... I suppose what I need most is inspiration.” Twilight dropped to her hooves again and backed up to look Rarity in the eye. “Well, how about this? You and I were destined to become friends. It breaks my heart to see you like this and I wish we could have the old you back. So you should look back at what you’ve accomplished.” “Yeah!” said Spike. “You’ve done so many cool things that nopony else has ever thought of before! Just look back and remember it all!” Rarity sniffed and looked back at the boutique. “Perhaps... perhaps you two are right,” said Rarity. “Maybe I could rework a few of my earlier designs and... ah-ha! Spike, I’ve never made anything for you, have I?” “No, I don’t think so,” said the baby dragon. “Well, I think I know exactly what to do for you,” said Rarity. She turned around and tore the “Closed for business” sign off the door with her teeth. Three diamonds sparkled into existence on her flanks. ***** The throne room doors closed behind Twilight with a deafening thud. Spike was waiting for her outside. “How’d it go?” he asked. Twilight looked down at him with sad eyes. She could hear the waves coming for her. “I’m done, Spike,” said Twilight. “I don’t have any magic left in me, and the Princess doesn’t want me as her student anymore. I failed...” Spike kept talking, but his words were drowned out by the waves. But Twilight heard something else. Someone calling her, miles away, but she still heard him. “Yusei...” said Twilight under her breath. Then she looked down at Spike. I can’t go, she thought to herself. Spike is still just a baby dragon, and he needs me. Maybe I don’t have the kind of magic that can impress the Princess anymore, but I still have the magic needed to care for someone. I’ll stay with you, Spike, no matter what! The waves receded. Twilight’s horn glowed and, with some effort, she lifted Spike onto her back. “Come on, Spike,” she said. “Let’s go home.” As Twilight trotted to the train station, a pink and purple starburst appeared on her flanks. ***** Fluttershy sat on the wooden floor of her cottage. No tears came to her eyes. No sobs escaped her lips. She just sat in the silence and the shadows, the world around her devoid of color. The silence gave way to the roar of waves. Suddenly Fluttershy heard a noise. She didn’t jump and she didn’t squeak. She just looked up. “Yusei?” she said. She turned around. Standing in the open door was a baby bird. It looked lost and scared. Fluttershy slowly walked up to the chick and scooped it up in her forelegs. “I failed once,” she said. “I won’t fail again. Come on, little guy. Let’s get you some food.” As she slowly flew across the room to where the old bird feeder hung, three pink butterflies appeared on her flank. ***** She had bounced her last bounce, laughed her last laugh, thrown her last party. She never realized just how relieving it would feel to give up. The weight of the world was lifted off of Pinkie Pie’s back. She heard a rumbling and looked up at the front window. She saw the waves coming toward her, about to swallow Ponyville, about to break through the window and take her away. “I don’t want to do it anymore,” she said. And then she heard something else. Her ears perked up. She turned away from the window and looked at the stairs. “Y-Yusei?” she said. Then, louder, “Yusei? Is that you?” She slowly walked up the stairs. His voice was gone. “I could have sworn I heard him,” said Pinkie Pie once she reached the top. But then she heard another sound. Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake were crying. Pinkie immediately ran to their room. The two children were crying very loudly. “Ooooh, sh-sh-sh,” said Pinkie Pie. “Auntie Pinkie Pie’s here, don’t worry.” She looked around the room. It was dark and the toys cast strange shapes on the walls, terrifying shapes that scared the children. Pinkie Pie looked at every claw, every hook, every talon, and every hooked nose that was splashed across the walls... and started laughing. Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake’s crying stopped and they looked at each other, confused. And Pinkie started to sing. She sang her laughter song, and she carried the two foals around the room on her back, singing to them as she did. She laughed at every shadow they passed, and the foals started laughing with her. Pinkie put them back in their crib and tucked them in and they went to sleep. Pinkie smiled softly and whispered, “Good night, Pound. Good night, Pumpkin.” As Pinkie Pie left the room, she said to herself, “Even if nopony came to the party, I still have Pound and Pumpkin. As long as I can make them smile, it’s all worth it.” Her hair bounced as she walked, becoming curly once again. Three small balloons slowly appeared on her flanks. ***** Exhaustion pinned her to the ground. Her lungs burned for air, but she didn’t care anymore. The waves were coming and water would fill her lungs soon. Everything she had tried, she had failed to accomplish. Rainbow Dash lay on the cloud floor of the stadium, out of breath and out of energy. Alone and forgotten. The roaring of the waves drowned out the booing crowd around her. In the midst of the noise, Rainbow Dash heard something. Like a drop of water falling into the ocean. A single tear. She heard it again. And again. It became louder as it came closer, and she realized that someone was walking toward her. “Don’t give up!” Her eyes shot open. She stood and looked around her. “Yusei?” she said, but he wasn’t there. She still heard the waves behind her, but she heard something else. She looked... and she saw her friends. They were cheering and whistling, just for her. Fluttershy was practically screaming. A spark flashed in her eyes. A shiver ran down her spine and into the tips of her wings. “WAIT!” she yelled. The Wonderbolts, who had been walking away from her, stopped and turned around. “Didn’t you hear me, Dash?” said Spitfire. “You’re done. Just go home.” “I’m NOT done!” snapped the pegasus. “Not yet! I still have one more trick!” Before the Wonderbolts could argue, she leapt into the air and flapped her wings as hard as she could, pushing herself higher and higher. The air became thinner and thinner as she climbed higher and higher. Then, at last, she stopped. She looked around. Rainbow Dash was on top of the world. It was round and glowing. The sky was empty. She hovered where the clouds couldn’t reach her. The solitude was overwhelming. Despite this, she knew she wasn’t alone. She could still hear her friends. Rainbow Dash flipped around, tucked her wings to her sides and dove. Air streamed around her, pushed against her, but she pushed back. She was Rainbow Dash, the greatest flyer in Equestria! She wasn’t about to let some measly atmosphere tell HER what to do! She wouldn’t even let her heroes tell her what to do! She could choose. She could choose to fly, or she could choose the waves. She could choose to give up, or she could choose to want something. As she gained speed and the air formed a trailing cone around her, Dash realized something: Sonic rainbooms weren’t just legendary, they were impossible. Anytime she had seen somepony break the sound barrier, there was just a simple shock wave and a delayed boom. Nopony could do it. Yet she not only did the impossible, she did it twice. Rainbow Dash felt a tingling on her flank, but she didn’t look back. She knew it was her Cutie mark. That mark let everypony know that the impossible was her special talent. At that moment, Rainbow Dash made a choice. At that moment, Rainbow Dash decided that she wouldn’t give up on her friends, even if they gave up on her, even if she was left all alone, like she had been mere moments ago at the edge of space, because no matter what, she could choose to do the impossible. At that moment, she made a choice: Rainbow Dash threw her front hooves out before her and grinned. ***** Glowing, gold cracks traced their way across the dark orb in the sky. Darkness gazed up at its world. “What is this?” it said. The cracks expanded, becoming gold circles that covered the surface of the sphere. Beams of light fell from the sphere like rain. “No, no! Not again!” Suddenly the orb exploded, knocking Yusei off his feet. Darkness shielded its hooded face with its arm. A rainbow-colored ring burst through the explosion, expanding across the forest. A rainbow trail shot straight up into the sky, then curved around and streaked towards the ancient castle. “A sonic rainboom,” said Yusei. Rainbow Dash skidded to a halt next to Yusei, smirking the whole time. As the gold rays of light fell onto the castle roof, Twilight and the others appeared. Twilight groaned and rubbed her head with a hoof. Fluttershy and Applejack found themselves lying down and stood up. Even Princess Celestia had appeared on the roof with them. Another alicorn, this one smaller and dark blue, stood beside her. “Celestia?” said the dark alicorn. “What happened?” “Luna!” cried Celestia, wrapping her neck around the other pony. “Oh, Luna, I’m so glad you’re alright!” “This is impossible!” roared Darkness. “This is simply impossible!” “‘Impossible’ is my middle name, bub!” Dash sneered. “Looks like nopony liked your world, Darkness,” said Yusei as he stood up and brushed himself off. He turned and looked at the other ponies. “I’m so glad you guys are okay.” Celestia looked up at Yusei with a soft smile, then looked at Darkness with narrowed eyes. “Are you the same dark force that took my sister a thousand years ago?” she asked. “I am not,” replied Darkness. “That thing isn’t from this world, Celestia,” said Yusei. “It’s from mine.” “Your world?” asked Celestia. “What’s it doing here?” asked Dash. “And what is it anyway?” “Darkness,” Yusei answered. “One of the duelists I met in the past, Jaden Yuki, fought it and stopped it from doing to the human world what it tried to do to Equestria. Since it was banished from the human world, it came here. It set up a trap for me so it could try to invade my world again.” “And now you’re dueling it,” came a familiar voice. Yusei turned and saw Discord standing at the edge of the roof. “Well, I hope you defeat Darkness, ape. It may have freed me from my stone prison, but I do NOT appreciate being brainwashed!” Yusei smiled, but Rainbow Dash pointed a hoof at Discord and snapped, “Hey, what gives? First you’re working for that... thing... and now you’re all goody-goody and rooting for Yusei?” “Yusei said it himself,” Discord replied calmly. “Anyone he duels is his friend. We dueled, and though I lost, I still had fun. And I like the sound of that philosophy anyway.” Yusei nodded, then turned back to the duel field. “I’m not sure I can win this, though,” said Yusei. “I need my friends back home, but the Crimson Dragon can’t reach them from this world.” “Then allow me to help you with that,” said Discord. He started waving his hands about, but stopped when Celestia spoke. “Discord, no!” said the princess. “You may be powerful, but tearing open a dimensional rift like that... even you can’t contain it if it becomes unstable!” “There’s another way,” said Twilight. Everyone looked at her. Her horn glowed and the Elements of Harmony floated off the ground and moved to their respective owners. “You need friends, Yusei? You’ve got friends right here!” Each Element began to glow and the six ponies rose into the air. Twilight closed her eyes for just a moment, then slowly opened them. They were glowing bright white. Six different beams rose out of the jewels and swirled around each other, then fell on Yusei in a rainbow. The Dragon Head mark on his arm glowed and vanished. The full mark of the Crimson Dragon appeared on Yusei’s back and the top card of his deck began to glow bright gold. “Thank you, everypony,” said Yusei as the Twilight and her friends returned to the stone floor. He drew the glowing card from his deck. “I summon Messias Draconis, Majestic Dragon!” said Yusei. A very small dragon, no bigger than Spike, appeared before Yusei. Its body was bright pink and had a crystalline sheen. Its eyes were large and bright yellow. Majestic Dragon ATK/0 LV 1 “Now, Level One Majestic Dragon, tune with Level One Sonic Chick and Level Eight Stardust Dragon!” Stardust Dragon roared and flew into the sky, with Sonic Chick following it. Majestic Dragon spun into the air above them and grew larger than both of them. The two monsters moved into its clear body. "Gathering starlights will enlighten a new miracle! Become the path its light shines upon!” As Yusei chanted, A beam of light shot through all three monsters and widened to envelop them. “Synchro Summon! Arrive in light, Majestic Star Dragon!” Like a crystal arrow, the new monster burst out of the beam of light, spinning as it did. It made a wide loop in the air, then stopped above Yusei, spreading its four wings out. Its body was made of the clearest crystal. Purple gems adorned its chest and shoulders, while red ones rested on its wings and knees. Its roar sounded like Stardust Dragon’s, but deeper and- Yusei could think of no other word for it- ancient. Majestic Star Dragon ATK/3800 LV 10 “It’s... beautiful,” said Fluttershy. “Simply dazzling!” said Rarity. “That is a mighty impressive dragon,” commented Applejack. “That is so cool!” came Rainbow Dash’s voice. “You’re in BIG trouble now, you big pile of bones!” said Pinkie Pie with a grin. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” breathed Twilight. “It’s... incredible!” “It does not matter!” said Darkness. “It cannot hope to surpass Darkness Neosphere!” “Maybe not,” said Yusei. “But I think we’ll manage. I activate Majestic Star Dragon’s effect! Once per turn, I can negate the effects of one of your monsters until the End Phase, and Majestic Star Dragon can activate it as its own effect! Go, Sublimation Drain!” Tiny blue lights floated up from Darkness Neosphere and were absorbed by Majestic Star Dragon. It roared as it gained its new power. “I Set three cards face-down and end my turn,” said Yusei. “During the End Phase, Majestic Star Dragon activates the effect of Darkness Neosphere, returning my Life Points to four thousand!” “In addition to that, I activate the Continuous Trap ‘Stay Force’! Normally, Majestic Star Dragon would return to my Extra Deck during the End Phase, but I can negate that effect with Stay Force by paying a thousand of my Life Points!” A green nimbus appeared around Yusei for a few seconds. A Life Point Counter appeared next to him and displayed “4000”. “I’ll never give up on my friends, Darkness!” said Yusei. “The bonds I’ve forged with them are too precious and too strong!” “Yusei’s right,” said Twilight. “Yeah!” said Dash. “When friends are together, they can do the impossible!” “They can find hope when there’s none left,” said Applejack. “They can inspire each other when they cannot go on,” said Rarity. “They help us see that we can try again,” said Fluttershy. “They make us laugh when the whole world is gray and dull and flat!” laughed Pinkie Pie. “When your friends need you, you find the the strength to be there for them,” said Twilight. “That’s the kind of magic that’s more powerful than anything. That is the magic of friendship!” “You won’t win this duel, Darkness,” said Yusei, “not while I’ve got my friends with me! I end my turn!” Life Point Count Darkness: 4000 Yusei: 3000